Ethel Joan Butcher

Ethel Joan Butcher, 87 of Marion, passed away on January 21, 2023, at the Marion General Hospital. On April 6, 1935, the late Emmett Ray Balthaser and Evelyn Gertrude Harmon welcomed her into the world in Amanda, OH. She would get married to Charles Thomas on October 10, 1953, in Indiana. Charles would pass away on March 1, 1999.

Ethel graduated from Marion Harding High School with the Class of 1953. She would remain close with her classmates by being on the Class of 1953’s reunion committee and attending their monthly breakfast get togethers. Ethel was a bus driver for all of her working career, which she loved, because she loved to drive and travel. She drove buses for over 40 years for different organizations. Her last job before retiring was driving for the Head Start program in Marion for 12 years. She didn’t just like driving buses, she delivered flowers for Grimm, sometimes even between her bus shifts. She used to attend First United Church and sing in the choir. Her love for singing didn’t stop there as she became a member of the Senior Center Choir of Marion. In her free time, she enjoyed reading, bird and butterfly watching, and bowling.

Ethel is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Daughter, Rebecca (1965), and her Grandson, James Rasnick (2022), Nephew, Kenneth Balthaser (2018).

She leaves her memories behind to be cherished by her Sons; Dave Butcher of Marion, OH, and Mike Butcher of Delaware, OH, Daughters; Debbie (Don) Rines of Belle Center, OH, Carol Hopkins of Marion, OH, and Roberta Butcher of Carey, OH, sister-in-law, Selma Tolley of Marion, OH, Brothers; Charles (Eiko) Balthaser of CA, Grandchildren; Scott Rasnick of Marion, OH, Renee Smith of TN, Rebecca (Jerod) Hughes of Mansfield, OH, Kelli (Joe) Parks of Lexington, OH, her 14 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great- grandchildren, Nephews Neil Balthaser, Nieces; Eunice (David Bogart) Wlcek, Carol (Lynn) Addis, and Vicki (Ken) Odenweller, her special cousin of Texas, Judy (Rodger) Irvin of Lancaster, OH, and many classmates and friends.

Ethel’s family would like to invite her loved ones, classmates, and friends to join them for calling hours on Monday January 30th, 2023, at the Boyd Funeral Home from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a memorial service held immediately after calling hours at the funeral home at 3 p.m. Rev. Nathan McBeth will be officiating the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ohio Health Hospice of Marion. The Boyd Funeral Home is honored to answer the call to serve Ethel’s family in their time of need.

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